ABSTRACT : A Training Course in Iron Smelting,
using a small scale bloomery furnace. Artisan Blacksmith
Darrell Markewitz offers a regular series of weekend long
programs in a number of aspects of traditional
Blacksmithing. Special courses include : layered steels
(pattern welding), bladesmithing / knife making, bronze
casting, iron smelting. Programs held at the Wareham Forge
in Ontario Canada, with remote teaching offered at other
facilities.

Introduction to Smelting Iron

? June 30 - July 1 ? Saturday
& Sunday (long day!)

(Requires at least 2 students due to materials costs)

Your instructor, Darrell Markewitz, is well known
as a specialist in the Viking Age. He consulted on the
Smithsonian's 'Vikings - North Atlantic Saga' and the
Newfoundland Museum's 'Full Circle - First Contact'. He
designed and produced the exhibit 'World of the Norse' for
the Cranbrook Institute of Science and the 'Norse
Encampment' living history program for Parks Canada. In
2001, he was part of a special research team at L'Anse aux
Meadows NHSC working on presenting Viking Age iron
smelting at the site. Since then he has lead a series of experimental iron
smelts, attempting to discover lost techniques as
they might have been used by the Norse undertaken by the Dark Ages
Re-creation Company. He is one of the core group of
demonstrators and team leaders behind the highly
successful 'Early Iron Symposium' - an annual event held
at the Farmers Museum in Cooperstown NY. He continues to
research, experiment into specifically 'Pre-Medieval'
bloomery furnaces. As well as providing academic papers,
he has worked on projects in Canada, the USA, the UK and
Europe.

Introduction to Smelting Iron is an intensive
hands on program, roughly 18 hours in duration. Students
will prepare materials, build a smelter, then fire it to
produce a workable iron bloom. The 'Econo Norse' smelter
that will be used was designed to be quickly constructed
of easily obtained materials. It is fired with charcoal
and uses an electric blower for air supply. A bloom
weighing roughly 15 lbs is expected from use of about 40
lbs of ore.

This program does not require any previous
metalworking experience.

Programs are open to any physically able
people, from young adults onwards. (Aged 16 an up -
see a special note : Teens as
Students). Any students with
"learning \ physical disabilities" need to refer to the
detail section on Course
Requirements. English is the language of
instruction. Sorry - the Wareham Forge is not really
wheel chair accessible.This program limited to three students only
(inquire about group programs)

Saturday, the program starts with a background
lecture covering the historical development and the
practical elements of the small direct process bloomery
furnace. The balance of the day will be spent
constructing the 'Econo Norse' brick smelter itself. The
smelt normally requires about 80 - 100 KG of charcoal to
be smashed to size and sorted. Ore will be prepared,
with various potential types being evaluated. At least
some rock based ore will be roasted and crushed for the
experience. Other furnace types will be examined (as
part of ongoing experiments at Wareham). The working
site will be prepared for the smelt the following day.

A LONG day Sunday will start at 8 AM with the
pre-heating the furnace. Any more charcoal required will
be prepared. The now cool ore will be crushed (about 20 -
40 KG required) The initial charge of charcoal is
scheduled for roughly 10 am. The actual process of the
smelt takes roughly 6 - 7 more hours. Participants will
learn the effective managing of an operating smelter,
including adding fuel and ore, controlling air flow, and
taping slags. Valuable experience will be gained in how to
interpret the sounds of a correctly operating furnace.

Extracting Bloom

Initial Compaction

Cutting the Bloom

After this, the resulting iron bloom will be extracted
from the furnace - while the mass is still white hot!. It
then is given a primary consolidation, compacting the
surface using sledge hammers. The iron produced will be
cut to sections and shared between the participants.

This program does not require any previous
metalworking experience, and is of interest to students of history
as well as blacksmiths.

Fees: 'Iron Smelting' - $450 +
HST

The course fee includes a handout on disk - and a portion
of the bloom created. Students should bring a simple lunches
- and 'hand meal' dinner Sunday (something that can be
grabbed while managing the smelt!). There will be a handout
provided with and overview of technique, equipment and
material sources. All required safety equipment will be
provided. Students are recommended to wear old clothes,
which must be all natural fabrics (cotton ideal) and work
boots. A long sleeved shirt and cap is recommended.

I hereby acknowledge that the activities involved in
blacksmithing are potentially dangerous and I voluntarily
accept any risks involved. I understand that the Wareham Forge
and Darrell Markewitz will make every reasonable effort to
maintain safety within the shop, but I will assume any
liability for any accident or injury that may occur during
this course.

Signed (give name): Date:

Click to send your request information as an email
(info@warehamforge.ca)

Remember: to guarantee a place, ensure your application & deposit will be received at least 30 days before the course date you desire.
A cancelation may result in the loss of your deposit.

On recieving your deposit, a set of instructions detailing how to get to the
Wareham Forge will be sent. (For planning, Wareham is near Flesherton, Ontario
- about 45 minutes drive north of Orangeville.)

Book your course via the
electronic payment system.

INTRODUCTION TO SMELTING IRONJUNE 30 & JULY 1

ENSURE YOUR COURSE REGISTRATION!
Please include your requested date under 'instructions from sender'.
I will respond via e-mail with further instructions.

Interested in adding the drama of an Iron Smelting
Demonstration to your Special Event or Educational Program?
Darrell has been a featured demonstrator at a number of past events, including :
2003 / 2004 / 2005 - Early Iron Symposiums
2005 - CANIRON
V (Annapolis Royal NS)
2008 - Quad State Roundup (Troy OH)